In 1972, an Ohio physician was aware of the talent, capabilities, determination, and courage of people with disabilities. He established Ms. Wheelchair America as a forum for the promotion of the achievements as well as the needs of mobility-impaired persons. The non-profit program is staffed and coordinated by volunteers throughout the country dedicated to increasing public awareness so that all its citizens will be able to lead productive and meaningful lives.
Ms. Wheelchair America and Ms. Wheelchair Texas Pageants are competitions designed to select the most accomplished and articulate spokeswoman for the millions of disabled Americans. The selected representative must be able to communicate both the needs and the accomplishments of her constituency to the general public, the business community, and the legislature.
As Ms. Wheelchair Texas, her duties are numerous. Each year she has the opportunity to travel, make public appearances, and conduct radio, print, and television interviews in the fulfillment of her responsibilities. These include promoting awareness of the need to eliminate architectural and attitudinal barriers, educating Texans on disability issues, and informing the public of the achievements of people with disabilities across our great state.